Golf Putting Aid

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a golf putting aid to reduce the open area of a hole that can receive a golf ball. The putting aid comprises a body that fits within a golf hole and reduces the open area for a golf ball to pass into the hole. Golfers can use the aid for the purpose of practicing putting, as it forces golfers to focus on accuracy of their putts.

BACKGROUND

In golf, players aim to hit a golf ball into a golf hole which ispositioned on a green. A standard golf hole is 4.25 inches in diameter,with a depth of 4 inches to 5.5 inches. A putt is a stroke made on thegreen to move the ball into or near the hole. The putting stroke ischallenging, and players can benefit from practicing the stroke with theaid of practice tools. Existing practice tools include the ParSaver 3Ring Putt Trainer, a product with three concentric rings that fit atop astandard golf hole and thereby reduce the size of the opening. A golferthus has a smaller target area to put the ball into the hole. Bypracticing with a reduced hole size, the golfer can focus on increasingthe accuracy of his or her putts. Another practice tool is the SKLZ GolfPutting Cup Accuracy Trainer, a partial ring that is positioned aroundthe golf hole and rises above the green. The product encloses a portionof the golf hole as seen from the perspective of the golfer so that lessof the hole opening is accessible. As a result, the golfer can practicewith a reduced target area.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a golf putting aid to reduce the open area of a hole thatcan receive a golf ball. The putting aid comprises a body that fitswithin a golf hole and reduces the open area for a golf ball to passinto the hole. Golfers can use the aid for the purpose of practicingputting, as it forces golfers to focus on accuracy of their putts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The detailed description makes reference to the accompanying FIGUREwherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a golf putting aid in accordance with the principlesdisclosed herein.

The FIGURE is only intended to facilitate the description of theprinciples disclosed herein. The FIGURE does not illustrate every aspectof the principles disclosed herein and does not limit the scope of theprinciples disclosed herein. Other objects, features, andcharacteristics will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed illustration is disclosed herein. However, techniques,methods, processes, systems and operating structures in accordance withthe principles disclosed herein may be embodied in a wide variety offorms and modes, some of which may be quite different from thosedisclosed herein. Consequently, the specific structural and functionaldetails disclosed herein are merely representative. Any reference to adiameter or depth requirement is exemplary, as a putting aid inaccordance with the principles disclosed herein may be sized toaccommodate other diameters and depths.

FIG. 1 depicts a putting aid 100 with top surface 102, face 104, bottomsurface 106, curved exterior surface 108, and recess 110. When placed ina golf hole at a golf course or practice green, bottom surface 106 ispreferably mounted on the bottom of the hole, with curved exteriorsurface flush with the inside wall of the hole, and top surface 102 evenwith or slightly below the surface of the green. When used properly,putting aid 100 effectively reduces the area available for a golf ballto enter the hole. Accordingly, a golfer must aim the ball so that itreaches the open area of the hole between the green and top surface 102of putting aid 100, in which case the ball will fall down into the holetowards bottom surface 106. A put that is not directionally accuratewill miss the reduced hole area. Similarly, a ball that is moving tooquickly may pass over the reduced hole area, and depending on the angleof attack, may roll over top surface 102. Recess 110 is provided tofacilitate removal of putting aid 100 from a golf hole. A golfer mayreach into the hole, insert a finger or tool into recess, and pullupwards to lift putting aid 100 out of the golf hole.

As golf holes vary in depth, putting aid 100 may be adjustable,preferably from at least 4 inches to 5.5 inches. In some embodiments,deeper or shallower depths may be used, and in some embodiments, largeror smaller ranges of motion may be provided. The depth of putting aid100 may be adjusted by rotating bottom surface 106 with respect to theupper portion enclosed by inside surface 104 and curved exterior surface108. An internal screw (not shown) has threads that extend bottomsurface downward, preferably from a depth of 4 inches at a minimum to atleast 5.5 inches. Alternative embodiments may use other appropriatemeans to adjust the depth of putting aid. In a non-limiting example,concentric cylinders are provided with clamps or screws to fasten andrelease one cylinder with respect to the other. In some embodiments, arelease mechanism is positioned in recess 110 to adjust the depth ofputting aid 100.

The detailed description is not intended to be limiting or represent anexhaustive enumeration of the principles disclosed herein. It will beapparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be madein such details without departing from the spirit of the principlesdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf putting aid comprising any featuredescribed, either individually or in combination, in any configuration.